Great Song Moments (GSM) Welcome

Welcome to my blog that will identify Great Song Moments (GSM). The inspiration for this site comes from the fact that there are songs out there that are special. You have some, I have some. These are songs where there is ONE part that stands out. It might be a note, a lick, a passage or a raspy vocal. It could be at the beginning of the song or not. Maybe it is the hook that has meaning for you. Whatever it is, it is the part of the song that you wait for and enjoy. Maybe even get a goose bump or two.

For me it is often just a measure, a riff or even a note that stands out. It could be a sound or the words that provide that M.O.M. That Moment Of Meaning (M.O.M.) for you is the point of the song that you wait for and when it comes, you say to your self, “Yeah. That’s it.”

There are sites out there that get technical and offer actual notes on a staff. This site will be more focused on the “Feel” of the music and what it means to me and to you. I look forward to your comments, thoughts and ideas. Where possible, I will offer these few basic points of information regarding each M.O.M.:

1. Song Title

2. Artist

3. Album

4. Copyright Date

And add other interesting info like:

1. A bit of history of the song or group

2. Cool information

3. What exactly prompts the M.O.M.

4. Where I was when I heard the song

5. What I was doing or do when I heard/hear the song

6. Do I still listen to the song

7. Anything else I can think of

I will start with three examples that I think will quickly demonstrate what I mean about M.O.M. They are:

The Phil Collins tune, In The Air Tonight, will show how the moment happens at the point where the drums kick in and where just about everyone becomes an Air Drummer! The song was from the CD “Face Value.” Copyright 1981.

Click play below to hear the sample of In The Air Tonight.

Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas just kicks right off with a M.O.M. but the driving guitar riff begins 16 seconds into the song. This is from the 1976 “Leftoverture” CD.

Click play below to hear the sample of Carry On Wayward Son.

Santana’s She’s Not There is a cover song. The vocals are what make this song stand out for me. 2:10 into the song those vocals get gritty and powerful creating my M.O.M. The syncopated words, “Why should I care,” turns into the gritty, “Well, let me tell you 'bout the way she looked.” And the two syllable “Ha-ir” goes into the drawn out, “Therererere,” right before the too cool Santana guitar solo. The vocals were performed by Greg Walker. This song is the first song on disc number 2 from the 1977 CD, “Moonflower.”

Click play below to hear the sample of She's Not There.

As I expand the blog, I will share more of my M.O.M.s with songs from the rock world, country, jazz and maybe a few classical pieces thrown in. They might not be my favorite songs but will have meaning for me in some way. I look forward to sharing with you and developing dialog about the music that creates M.O.Ms for all of us.

Thanks for visiting.

Keenan